Three Screw Single Six 22WMR

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I visited one of my favorite gun stores on Saturday. There was a nice three screw Single Six in the display case. Blue, 6 1/2" barrel, extra magnum cylinder.

It was sitting in the top half of the box.

The dealer said he had the bottom half around some place, but it took him a while to find it. Finally he found it, and there were two old boxes of 22 WMR in the box and one old box of 22 LR.

Now here's the thing. The model listed on the end of the box is Single Six .22 W.M.R. Caliber Revolver.

When I look in Ruger and his Guns, the tables in the back list my Serial Number (3725XX) as falling in the 'Magnum' model, and if I am reading it right, this gun was make in 1963. Does that sound right?

And the other question is, if this gun sold specifically as the 'magnum' model, and not a convertible, does that mean it originally shipped with just the magnum cylinder? Or did it ship with both the LR and the Magnum cylinder?

Yes, I bought it, and I took it to the range yesterday. Had a great time, shot just a few of those old Super X magnum rounds, shot a few CCI Maxi Mags out of it too. But mostly, I was plinking at tin cans with the LR cylinder. I would not have been interested in the gun if it only came with a magnum cylinder.

So what's the deal here? Did this gun ship with the LR cylinder, or was that added later?

And does 1963 sound right?

Thanks

P.S. I brought it's Big Brother along just for fun yesterday.

 

[Hondo44]

Driftwood,

Great find and great shape!

There's two possibilities: it went back to the factory for and added LR cyl or someone just found one to add to it.

First thing to do is look for the last 3 digits of the serial number stamped or etched on the front face of the LR cyl. They can be hard to see so clean it 1st and then check in good light. If you still can't find them or can't read them, look with a 10x glass. If it has no number or a different number from the gun, it was added by the owner.

If it went back it may also have gotten a factory re-blue so check the recoil plate with the firing pin hole in it to see if it's in the white (original) or blued (indicative of a re-blued).

 

[GasGuzzler]

What does it say on the left side of the frame above the trigger window?

 

[chet15]

Here's a timeline of the 6-1/2" Single-Six...

First guns with magnum markings on the left side of the cylidner frame....300000 to around 340xxx.
But...Ruger started shipping a few of the magnum marked guns with an extra .22 LR cylinder (the first convertibles)
By the time 340000 rolled around, at least 95% of the 6-1/2 (probably higher) were convertibles.
Then, since Ruger was making mostly convertibles, the Mag. marking on the side of the frame was a non-issue, so Ruger changed it to the regular Single-Six marking. After this happened, very few Mag. only Single-Sixes were shipped (I only know of around a dozen in 4 different variations).
So there's a 95+% chance your 372xxx range gun left the factory originally as an RSSMX...no matter what Ruger's dates of manufacture on their website says.
Chet15

 

[Montelores]

Hi, All -

Here is a listing from the Classifieds with a photo of a "Magnum" Single Six:

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=178823&p=1783145#p1783145

The left side states "RUGER SINGLE-SIX / WIN. .22 RF MAG. CAL."

Hope this helps -

Monty

 

[Hondo44]

What Chet said; most likely a cat. # RSSMX (the M meaning 6 1/2" barrel).

Your original qusetions:

"When I look in Ruger and his Guns, the tables in the back list my Serial Number (3725XX) as falling in the 'Magnum' model, and if I am reading it right, this gun was make in 1963. Does that sound right?"
YES, IT'S CORRECT.

"And the other question is, if this gun sold specifically as the 'magnum' model, and not a convertible, does that mean it originally shipped with just the magnum cylinder?"
YES. YOUR BOX INDICATES IT DID BECAUSE THERE IS NO X AT THE END OF THE CAT. #. BUT YOUR GUN ALSO HAS WALNUT GRIPS WHICH MEANS IT SHOULD HAVE A W IN THE CAT. #, BUT NOT USED WITH AN X FOR EXTRA CYL. THE BOX MAY NOT BE ORIGINAL TO THE GUN. DOES YOUR BOX HAVE THE SERIAL # OF YOUR GUN WRITTEN ON IT SOMEWHERE?
BOX MARKINGS ARE NOT FULLPROOF. AND GRIPS COULD HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO WALNUT AS WELL.

"Or did it ship with both the LR and the Magnum cylinder?"
DUE TO THE LACK OF THE MAG MARKED FRAME, YOURS MOST LIKELY SHIPPED AS A CONVERTIBLE WITH BOTH CYLS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU FIND SCRATCHED ON THE FRONT OF THE CYLS.

"And the other question is, if this gun sold specifically as the 'magnum' model, and not a convertible, does that mean it originally shipped with just the magnum cylinder? Or did it ship with both the LR and the Magnum cylinder?"
EITHER COULD BE THE CASE.

Your gun has an XR3-RED grip frame and alloy ER housing, and looks like it's not marked Magnum on the frame. Only 2 known as shipping w/mag cyl only with those features and frames marked as yours is. In your s/n range both cylinders would have the last 3 digits of the s/n scratched (engraved on the front face.) Does your gun have the eagle logo on the barrel?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Well!

Thanks for the great replies. I have about 1/2 dozen three screws now, and there is a lot more to them than I originally thought. I think I'm spoiled, I dunno if I will buy anymore new Rugers.

Yes, both cylinders are marked on their front faces with the last three digits of the SN. I had to clean them off a bit to see it, but it is there. Looks to be scribed by hand with a vibrating engraving pencil. The handwriting appears to be identical on both cylinders too. I take that to mean it was probably done at the same time by the same person.

If it means anything, the red cloth bag that holds the 'extra' cylinder is pretty sooty, so it was probably with the gun for a long time. Or at least it was somewhere for a long time.

Yes, the box has the SN penciled on. You can see it in the photo of the end of the box. I edited out the last two digits, if you look carefully you can see an orange square where I edited out the last two digits. The SN on the box matches the SN on the gun.

I don't know much about these different model numbers, but the box clearly says RSSM. No X. And the barrel length is correct too.

Nope, no 'magnum' markings on the frame, you can see that in one of my photos. Just RUGER .22 CAL SINGLE-SIX with the eagle next to it.

Nope, no markings on the barrel, other than the Ruger address on the top. STURM, RUGER & CO. SOUTHPORT, CONN., U.S.A.



Yes, it has the XR3-RED grip frame.

So, you think the walnut grips are replacements? What type of grips did these guns usually ship with?

Yes, the insert surrounding the firing pin hole is blue. It has a little bit of wear, and the blue is starting to wear off on one corner, but it is definitely dark, not in the white.

Yes, I can see that the ejector rod housing is darker, and it is not magnetic.

The blue is almost perfect, just the tiniest bit of wear at the muzzle. If the gun was reblued it is a very, very good job. No overpolishing anywhere, no fading of the letters and the edges that should be sharp are still sharp.

So. We think my gun shipped with both cylinders but may have new grips?

Thanks

 

[GasGuzzler]

The serial number is on the box. I cannot see the stamp that's why I asked. I know it falls outside the normal range of Mag only but....if it's marked as WMR on the frame then?

Get a letter.

Hahaha....forum feature allowed me to read the last reply before this went public. I'd say for sure it's an X gun even though I cannot explain the box label. Then again, one letter in the model number on what might be the original box doesn't raise many questions.

Get a letter...LOL.

 

[Hondo44]

Yes, both cylinders are marked on their front faces with the last three digits of the SN. I had to clean them off a bit to see it, but it is there. Looks to be scribed by hand with a vibrating engraving pencil. The handwriting appears to be identical on both cylinders too. I take that to mean it was probably done at the same time by the same person.
I AGREE.

Yes, the box has the SN penciled on. You can see it in the photo of the end of the box. I edited out the last two digits, if you look carefully you can see an orange square where I edited out the last two digits. The SN on the box matches the SN on the gun.
I CAN SEE THE EDIT NOW THAT YOU DESCRIBE IT.

I don't know much about these different model numbers, but the box clearly says RSSM. No X. And the barrel length is correct too.
EASY EXPLANATION FOR THE MISSING X IN THE CAT # ON THE BOX; RUGER NEVER THREW ANYTHING OUT AND WAS USING UP OLD INVENTORY OF MAG ONLY BOXES WHICH WERE ALL 6 1/2".

Yes, it has the XR3-RED grip frame.
So, you think the walnut grips are replacements? What type of grips did these guns usually ship with?
NO, THE WALNUTS ARE DEFINITELY ORIGINAL, THERE WEREN'T ANY HARD RUBBER BLACK GRIPS MADE FOR THE OM XR3-RED GRIP FRAMES.

Yes, the insert surrounding the firing pin hole is blue. It has a little bit of wear, and the blue is starting to wear off on one corner, but it is definitely dark, not in the white.
The blue is almost perfect, just the tiniest bit of wear at the muzzle. If the gun was reblued it is a very, very good job. No overpolishing anywhere, no fading of the letters and the edges that should be sharp are still sharp.
A REFINISH BY RUGER IS AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL FINISH AND THEY DO IT SO CHEAP, MANY RUGERS HAVE GONE BACK TO RUGER FOR REFINISH. BUT I THINK YOURS IS ORIGINAL FINISH BASED ON EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE GUN, ORIGINAL BOX, ETC.

So. We think my gun shipped with both cylinders but may have new grips?
YES WITH BOTH CYLINDERS BUT WITH ORIGINAL GRIPS TOO.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

Well thanks very much to all for helping me get to the bottom of this nice revolver, particularly thanks to Hondo44.

It is now part of my growing little collection of Three Screws. Don't worry, I will shoot it too, but I will take good care of it.

 

[street]

"And the other question is, if this gun sold specifically as the 'magnum' model, and not a convertible, does that mean it originally shipped with just the magnum cylinder?"
YES. YOUR BOX INDICATES IT DID BECAUSE THERE IS NO X AT THE END OF THE CAT. #. BUT YOUR GUN ALSO HAS WALNUT GRIPS WHICH MEANS IT SHOULD HAVE A W IN THE CAT. #, BUT NOT USED WITH AN X FOR EXTRA CYL. THE BOX MAY NOT BE ORIGINAL TO THE GUN. DOES YOUR BOX HAVE THE SERIAL # OF YOUR GUN WRITTEN ON IT SOMEWHERE?
BOX MARKINGS ARE NOT FULLPROOF. AND GRIPS COULD HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO WALNUT AS WELL.

Hondo44! Ruger never put on their boxes for the 6 1/2 in Single-Six anything but RSSM. They never put RSSMX. Now on the shipper that's where they would stamp RSSMW or RSSMX. After the XR3-RED became standard all Ruger Single-Sixs came standard with Walnut grips because the Hard Rubber grips only fit the XR3 frame. As this gun has the XR3-RED grip frame and grips and is marked Single-Six only and it has both cylinders it is a good chance it was shipped from the factory as a RSSMX meaning it was shipped as a convertible with 6 1/2 in bl. Only a factory letter will determine if it was a RSSMX or just a (RSSMW, meaning a mag. only with walnut grips). If it does come back as a RSSMW then it is a very rare gun as very few guns were shipped as a Mag. only with a XR3-RED grip frame and marked Single-Six.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

OK, I'll bite.

How do I get a factory letter? I know how to get one from S&W, but I have never lettered anything from Ruger. I went to the Ruger website and I did not see anything about getting a factory letter.

So how do I do it?

Thanks

 

[Hondo44]

OK, I'll bite.

How do I get a factory letter? I know how to get one from S&W, but I have never lettered anything from Ruger. I went to the Ruger website and I did not see anything about getting a factory letter.

So how do I do it?

Thanks

Here's the direct link:
http://ruger.com/pdf/letterOfAuthenticity.pdf
Or from the home page, go to top bar, click: Customer syc - click: Instruction manul/product history. Buried in the small print text of the window that opens is "Reguest for Letter...", click on it.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Thanks!

Just Ten bucks? Such a deal.

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Money on it being issued that way, Period..............Be glad and stop fussing........ 8)

 

[Hondo44]

When I look in Ruger and his Guns, the tables in the back list my Serial Number (3725XX) as falling in the 'Magnum' model, and if I am reading it right, this gun was make in 1963. Does that sound right?

One thing I meant to add in the beginning that may have been helpful regarding the statement above.

The Mag only models and the convertible models are numbered in the same serial number range. So the number by itself does really help ID which model it was shipped as. Sorry if that's redundant though.